Abstract
This study examines implicit sequence learning impairments that may indicate at-risk cerebellar profiles proposed to underlie some aspects of subtle cognitive and affective dysfunctions found among female fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) premutation (PM)-carriers. A total of 34 female PM-carriers and 33 age- and intelligence-matched controls completed an implicit symbolically primed serial reaction time task (SRTT) previously shown to be sensitive to cerebellar involvement. Implicit learning scores indicated a preservation of learning in both groups; however, PM-carriers demonstrated poorer learning through significantly elevated response latencies overall and at each specific block within the symbolic SRTT. Group comparisons also revealed a core deficit in response inhibition, alongside elevated inattentive symptoms in female PM-carriers. Finally, strong and significant associations were observed between poor symbolic SRTT performance and executive, visuospatial and affective deficits in the PM-carrier group. These associations remained strong even after controlling motor speed, and were not observed in age- and intelligence quotient-matched participants. The findings implicate cerebellar non-motor networks subserving the implicit sequencing of responses in cognitive-affective phenotypes previously observed in female PM-carriers. We contend that symbolic SRTT performance may offer clinical utility in future pharmaceutical interventions in female PM-carriers. Analysis of performance on the symbolic serial reaction time task showed that when compared with control participants, females with the PM allele had a comparable number of errors, yet significantly longer mean response latencies at each of the eight task blocks.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 385-393 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Genes, Brain and Behavior |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome
- Cortico-cerebellar networks
- FMR1 gene
- FMRP
- FXTAS
- Phenotype
- Premutation carrier